Rocksylvania

Bill Bryson correctly writes in his Appalachian Trail memoir A Walk in the Woods, "I never met a hiker with a good word to say about the trail in Pennsylvania.  It is, as someone told a National Geographic reporter in 1987, the place where boots go to die."

Um yeah, and your knees too.  I know exactly what Mr. Bryson is talking about, I live near the Appalachian Trail and spend quite a bit of time on and around its adjoining trails.  There are rocks, rocks, rocks, and more rocks.  The little ones that stick-up out of the ground vertically are my least favorite, and are particularly hazardous.  There is nowhere to actually put your boot with these vertical buggers and when you hit them, you are prone to violently slide off.  Torquing your ankle or knee in the process.  This is usually followed by a good, old fashioned, "&%$#!"

If you are not being pestered by the little beasts, then the other option here in Central PA is the boulder field.  Medium rocks, spread out just so, and again, no good place to put your foot.  You cannot go in between them, they are not easy to balance on, and are spread out in a way where you can't just step, step.  You have to step, consider your options, step.  Miles of this gets maddening and boy does it hurt!

Just so you do not think I am one of those whiny hikers, lets turn once again to Mr. Bryson and A Walk in the Woods, where he describes his experience in Pennsylvania.  

"...mile upon mile of jagged, oddly angled slabs of stone strewn about in wobbly piles...These require constant attentiveness if you are not to twist an ankle or sprawl on your face - not a pleasant experience with fifty pounds of momentum on your back.  Lots of people leave Pennsylvania limping and bruised."

To hike in Central PA, I recommend a very sturdy pair of hiking boots, some knee braces, and a pair of hiking poles for balance.  Then a beer or two when you are done to relax your frayed nerves.

I have probably convinced you to say home.  But don't.  When out on the trail, if you do have a moment to look up from the rocky task at hand, you will notice that our trails are pretty.  If you are a history buff, there is evidence of the Industrial Age peppered through out our woods.  Building foundations, 1,000 steps, blast furnaces, and in one case an abandoned earth mover affectionately known as The General.  Pennsylvania has more rivers and streams than any other state and you know what, those streams can be breathtaking.  With all of that water you find hemlocks.  Gentle, and airy conifers that I always think add a touch of mysticism to the woods.

Here is a photo of some hemlocks on the trail.  See what I mean, beautiful, right? 

 
And you know what, those rocks can be ok too.  A few weeks ago a group of us went hiking, and one of our friends brought his five-year old son along.  The little boy gave me an opportunity to see the rocks anew.  He climbed on top of the tallest ones he could find, and pointed out the wow-factor of each funky shape.  Even lying down in one that wrapped around him like a rock sandwich.   We are Rocksylvania but it is ok, we make it work.

In honor of our rocks, here is a photo of the boulder scree a mile or so from the Appalachian Trail and my stomping grounds whenever I feel like going for a walk in the woods.  I have seen these boulders at all different times of the year and they change with the seasons, and time of day.  I think you'll agree, these rocks are beautiful. Here they are after a snowstorm.

 Go, go, go!

Anne












Photo by Andrew Bale www.balephoto.com